Electric steam generator



July 4, 1939. 5 w WATSON 2,164,482

ELECTRIC STEAM GENERATOF Filed Jan. 16, 1959 INVENT OR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel apparatus for and method of generating steam. While the invention involves the use of an electric current in generating steam, it does not depend on the electrical heating of the conductors.-

One of the important results of the invention is that steam is generated almost instantaneously. Another important result is that no large body of water is heated, and the usual losses by radiation from such a body of water are avoided.

The heating element according to the invention consists essentially of spaced conductors suitably mounted in an insulating block. Alternate conductors are connected to one side of the current line, and the remaining or intervening conductors to the other side of the line, with no permanent current path between adjacent conductors. Such a path is, however, established when water is deposited on the element, the current then flowing through the water. No conducting agent in the water is necessary when the variables of the system have been properly determined. However, it will be understood that the ordinary water supply contains a suflicient amount of a purifying addition, such as chlorine, to make it conductive to some extent, or if desired a proper amount of a conducting agent may be added to the water in the apparatus.

Due to the fact that there is no flow of current when the element is dry, the apparatus cannot be damaged by failure to replenish the water .supply. Also, the device is extremely economical in operation, since it consumes current only when producing steam.

In order to generate steam instantly, a proper relation must be maintained, with respect to the requirements of the apparatus, between the length of the conductors, the spacing therebetween, the rate of water supply to the heating element, and the current employed. The rate of water sup ply is such as to avoid immersing the conductors. The usual 110 volt current can ordinarily be used without a transformer. The remaining factors can readily be determined by trial and 45 adjustment, one specific example being given herein.

One of the important uses of the invention is in connection with steam radiators. The steam outlet is merely connected to the radiator, and

50 provision is made for the return of the condensed steam back to the generating apparatus at a level below the electrical element. A suitable elevating device is employed to lift water and drop it upon the element at the proper'rate. In this application of the invention, as well as in others which will readily be suggested, a comparatively small supply of water is required and need not be frequently replenished, owing to the circulation described above. In connection with radiators it will be evident also that the invention provides '5 a steam heating system that does away with boilers, pipes, and other expensive and inefficient appliances.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and the ac- 10 companying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a radiator equipped according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on the generati'ng apparatus in a plane parallel to that of IS Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 ure 1;

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the heating element enlarged, and

Figure 6 is a section of the adjustable element on an enlarged scale,

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters that are employed to a designate corresponding parts throughout.

In Figure 1, the numeral l designates a steam radiator of conventional design. Adjacent thereto is supported or secured a casing consisting preferably of two similar flanged sections 2 bolted together at 3. The casing is connected ,by a pipe 4 to the radiator. In the lower portion of the casing is a filling spout positioned to determine the maximum level of water that can be poured into the casing. The spout is normally closed by a knurled screw i-as shown in Figure 3.

At one end of the casing 2 is suitably supported a small electric motor 1 having a shaft extending into the casing and suitably packed in the casing wall at 9. v

The end of the shaft within the casing carries a water wheel or elevator in the form of a plurality of spokes I, each having its free end extended at l l in a direction parallel to the shaft 8 and carrying a bucket l2. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the buckets are arranged to pass below the water level determined by the spout 5 to be filled and to empty their contents when approximately at the top of their path.

In this area of discharge is a heating or vaporizing element including an insulating block l3 supported on a bracket 14 secured to an inner wall of the casing 2. The block is so positioned that the buckets l2 empty their contents of water thereon. This element further includes spaced of Figill] bars l5 of a suitable conducting material alternating with like bars l6 of another series. The bars l5 are interconnected at both ends by bus bars I5, and similarly the bars l6 by bus bars IS. The bars I 5 are connected to one side ll of the electrical circuit, and the bars IE to the other side 3, as shown in Figure 5 and diagrammatically in Figure 4. No current can flow through this device unless the bars l5 and I6 are bridged by a conducting medium, which, in this case, is water treated with a dissolved conducting agent at the purifying plant or elsewhere.

The electrical circuit also includes the motor I, a main switch is, and preferably a fuse 20, as shown in Figure 4. It is also desirable to provide a variable transformer 2! to change the line voltage if desired or necessary.

The radiator I is also preferably equipped with a pressurestat 22 of the bellows type with electrical contacts included in the circuit. This device is of well known construction and will open the circuit when the steam pressure in the radiator reaches a pre-determined maximum. The radiator is also equipped with a safety valve 23 which operates in the event that the pressurestat is not properly set or is out of order. The radiator also carries the usual air vent 24.

Upon the casing 2 is preferably mounted a housing 25 having in its front wall a panel 26 carrying the main switch I9 and the fuse 20. In the same wall may also be mounted a pressure gauge 2'! connected to the interior of the casing.

The entire generating unit may be built within the radiator, if desired, with suitable means for delivering water to the electrical element.

In the operating of the device, when the switch I9 is closed, the motor I operates and causes the buckets l2 to lift water from the bottom of the casing and pour it upon the bars, l5, It. The water will permit current to flow between the bars when the proper relation is established between the bar surface area, the spacing between bars, the voltage, and the rate of water supply. In a specific example, operating at 110 volts, eight bars having an average length of 1% inches are spaced approximately A; inch apart. The buckets l2 and their rate of dischargeon the vaporizing element are determined so that the latter is at no time covered by more than a film of water. In other words, the rate of water supply to the element is approximately equal to the maximum rate of evaporation thereby, the speed of the motor being adjusted or geared down accordingly. However, if theliquid should overflow the element, the excess merely returns to the reservoir. As the steam condenses in the radiator, the condensate returns to the reservoir in the bottom of the casing 2. Consequently a large quantity of water is not necessary, and replenishing is required only at infrequent intervals. This is true for whatever use the generated steam is utilized, as in the operation of steam engines and other machinery.

If the conductors i5 and IE are comparatively short, for example, 34; of an inch or less in the system described above, only one bus bar E5 or it is required for each set of conductors. In other words, the conductors of each series are interconnected only at the end joined to the line and are free or unconnected at the other ends The provision for varying the spacing between the conductors or rods is shown in Figure 6. One set of conductors. 35 has its ends slidably mounted on the corresponding bus bars 35'. For this purpose, the ends of the conductors are drilled and fitted with set screws 3? to secure the adjustment. Similarly, the conductors 36 of the other series are slidably mounted on their bus bars 36 and provided with set screws 38.

The length of the conductors and the volume of current are ordinarily constant, although they must be properly related to the other factors of the system. The proper relationship can be established by adjustment of the spacing of the conductors by the means described and the ad- 'Justment of the water supply rate by regulating the speed of the water delivery device.

Although the invention is described herein as a device for generating steam from water, the device is also adapted for generating various liquids such as medicaments. As a steam generator, the device can be used for running engines, sterilizing instruments, and for various other purposes.

The generating unit may be cleaned from time to time to remove any solid matter accumulated thereon. A stifi hair brush or tooth brush is suitable for this purpose, and it is merely a matter of mechanical design to construct the outer casing 2 so that the element may be easily reached with the brush. Also, a generating unit or system may be built with any desired number of separate generating elements such as described and the elements may be of various sizes, although the relations described above must be maintained.

I have observed that water and other liquids unadulterated by any conducting agent are converted into steam by the invention when the spacing of the conductors is not more than slightly in excess of the arcing distance. The operating distance between conductors may, however, be increased beyond this point and the liquid converted if the latter is a fairly good conductor of current.

. It has been stated above that the electrical element is at no time covered by more than a film of water. This'film expands, while the portion of the element beneath it becomes almost dry. Since there is no current flowing on the dry part of the element, it follows that the heat for expanding the bubble with steam is produced only by the flow of current in the wall of the bubble.

The bubble finally bursts and liberates steam."

This is a unique method of generating steam from water. There is a myriad of such steam bubbles constantly forming, some with a diameter of half an inch. r

What I claim is: r

1. The method of generating steam consisting in delivering liquid to spaced and insulated conducting members divided into two series, each series being connected to a different side of an electric circuit, and regulating the length of said members, the spacing therebetween, the volume of current and the rate of liquid delivery, relatively to each other, so that the liquid establishesa current path between adjacent members of the two series and generates steam before there is any substantial accumulation of 2. The method of generating steam consisting in delivering liquid to spaced and insulated conducting members divided into two series, each series being connected to a different side of an electric circuit, and regulating the length of said members, the spacing therebetwee'n, the volume of current and the rate of liquid delivery, relatively to each other, so that the liquid joins adjacent members of the two series and generates steam before there is any substantial accumulation of liquid. 

